This tradition is followed as a respect to the spirits of the dead. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (today). It is believed that the Gates of Hell are opened and the spirits are officially given permission TO VISIT THE MORTAL WORLD for ONE MONTH. During this time, the GHOSTS wander alongside us, the living. Hence, offerings are made - food, cigarettes clothes
and of course money in the form of HELL NOTES. It gets very smoky on this night as many different offerings are burnt at the front and back of houses to appease the deceased. This pix shows leftover unburnt hell notes scattered by the wind in the back lanes.
Everything that is used in the human world
is REPLICATED IN PAPER and 
burnt for them to receive and thus make their after-life more comfortable - like a pair of paper sneakers
to make walking (or hopping as Chinese ghost HOP, NEVER walk!) This festival is taken seriously in Malaysia as this "Hungry Ghost" hopped in for his Covid-19 vaccination with mask and face shield! 
With technology, even paper hand phones, iPad devices and
Covid-19 vaccines are offered for the hungry ghosts! Paper credit cards are also burnt so they can "buy" what they desire. We are all EXTRA CAREFUL during this month!
On a different note and away from ghosts, this enchanting photo of MOTHER and her DAUGHTER carried in a plastic bag was taken in 1987 by Hungarian photographer Attila Manek in Budapest.
Thirty-three (33) YEARS LATER , a still lovely mother and grown-up daughter did a similar post in the same market place minus the plastic bag 🤣 .
